LPaolini-OF THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

TASK:

a) The definition of utility

By utility is meant that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness, (all this in the present case comes to the same thing) or (what comes again to the same thing) to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered: if that party be the community in general, then the happiness of the community: if a particular individual, then the happiness of that individual.

b) The prinicple on which it is based

Everything you produce has to be useful for society, and has to augment happiness or pleasure and to diminish pain.

c) The way in which utility can affect policies

A measure of government is utilitarian when its tendency to augment the happiness of the community is greater than any which it has to diminish it.